NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk throughout his go to to the U.S. to satisfy President Donald Trump. The precise nature of the assembly is unclear, though Modi said on X that the 2 males “mentioned varied points, together with these he’s captivated with comparable to house, mobility, expertise and innovation.”
Musk was just lately chosen by Trump to move a brand new U.S. Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE.
Modi and Musk additionally met one another in New York in 2023. At the moment Musk mentioned he was “assured that Tesla might be in India … as quickly as humanly potential.”
Trump not sure about why Modi and Musk met
Modi and Musk met one another on Thursday through the Indian prime minister’s go to to the U.S. Whereas Musk was accompanied by his three younger youngsters, Modi was notably flanked by his prime advisers — together with Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Nationwide Safety Adviser Ajit Doval.
Later, at a joint press convention with Modi on the White Home, Trump mentioned he wasn’t certain why Musk met the Indian prime minister however he assumed Musk “desires to do enterprise in India.”
“I’d think about he met, presumably, as a result of you already know he’s working an organization,” Trump informed reporters.
India’s overseas ministry in a press release mentioned Modi and Musk “mentioned strengthening collaboration between Indian and U.S. entities in innovation, house exploration, synthetic intelligence and sustainable growth” and on “entrepreneurship and good governance.”
Musk has Starlink ambitions in India
Musk, who beforehand referred to as himself a “fan of Modi,” has lengthy wished his Starlink satellite tv for pc web service to make an entry into the Indian market. Its launch, nonetheless, has been delayed as a result of regulatory challenges, safety considerations and opposition from home telecom giants like Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio.
Final November, India’s telecoms minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, mentioned Starlink was but to adjust to safety norms, and a license for satellite tv for pc communications companies might be issued solely after the corporate meets all the necessities.
Musk had earlier criticized India’s coverage of granting spectrum for satellite tv for pc companies by way of auctioning. The Indian authorities later modified the coverage and mentioned it would assign satellite tv for pc spectrum and never public sale it.
India has huge, untapped potential in satellite tv for pc broadband
India’s satellite tv for pc broadband service market is extremely aggressive. At the very least six corporations management the market, led by Ambani’s Reliance Jio.
Other than regulatory roadblocks, Musk’s Starlink has additionally confronted resistance by Reliance Jio, which final 12 months mentioned granting spectrum for satellite tv for pc companies by way of auctioning is important to make sure truthful competitors.
Musk’s Starlink has at the very least 6,900 energetic satellites orbiting Earth that present low-latency broadband to some 4.6 million folks. But when Musk desires to enter the Indian market, Starlink’s excessive pricing may very well be a priority.
Cell knowledge in India is among the many most cost-effective globally, and Ambani’s Jio as soon as gave knowledge at no cost on its cellular plans. And but, at the very least 40% of the nation’s greater than 1.4 billion folks nonetheless don’t have entry to the web. Low-cost satellite tv for pc broadband is required to bridge this hole, notably in India’s huge distant and mountainous areas.
Musk’s Tesla vehicles are but to enter Indian market
Musk’s Tesla has additionally been ready to get into India, which is among the world’s largest vehicle markets, however has confronted hurdles as a result of excessive import duties on automobiles introduced into the nation.
Additionally, India’s electrical automobile market remains to be nascent and made up a bit of greater than 2% of complete automobile gross sales final 12 months. However the authorities desires to vary that and enhance the electrical automobile share to 30% by 2030.
India additionally just lately unveiled a brand new coverage that extends concessional tariffs on absolutely imported electrical automobiles made by overseas carmakers who decide to beginning native manufacturing.
